Nestled at the edge of the tranquil, jade lake, the quaint cottage, with its thatched roof and vibrant covering of ivy, stood as an enigma. Its moss-laden walls echoed the songs of the lapping water, yet the serenity was punctuated by an eerie silence. The orange and yellow leaves of the autumnal trees reflected in the still mirror-like surface, disturbed only by the ripples of unseen fishes.

The sailor, having spent his childhood years by the lake, knew its depths better than anyone. He could almost hear the stories the lake whispered to him in the cyan stillness. He remembered the villagers' tales of a hidden treasure buried at the bottom of the lake. The stories of the enchantresses who lived in the water with long, flowing silver hair that obstructed the view of the mushroom-shaped, moonlit islands in the lake. Yet, the cottage near the water held a different story, its old wooden windows hid secrets unknown.

One moonlit night, the sailor's curiosity won against his fear. He cautiously entered the cottage, the creaking floorboards whispering back to him. His torchlight traced over the layers of dust on the dusty books and antique knick-knacks. But amongst them, he found a journal. It told tales of love, loss, and a hidden treasure, not at the bottom of the lake, but on one of its islands. As he turned a page, his heart raced with the discovery, the mystery of the cottage unraveled, leaving a trail of awe and wonder in the stillness.